Pineapple Tomato Salsa with Trout + lunch idea

Idk why but this is where
my thoughts went

The other night I really wanted some tortilla chips but there was no salsa anywhere to be found. Anyone who is anyone knows that tortilla chips are just not eaten without salsa and cheese only can lead to digestive disasters (TMI?). Just to give everyone a look into my life, what I did find in the fridge was six bottles of ketchup. SIX BOTTLES. With varying amounts of ketchup in them. And not a single jar of salsa. Since I really needed something to occupy me while watching the cheesiest/worst of ABC Family dramas (read: Switched at Birth and The Lying Games - don't judge), I decided to make my own.  And no, I didn't use any ketchup for it but I did include some pineapple and damn it was good.

I ended up remaking this salsa two days two days in a row, which is pretty normal when I get obsessed with a food. I ended up using it as a dip, mixing it with my rice at lunch the next day, and pouring it over fish and pasta for dinner the next day. It's easy, versatile and cheap so it's a win win win all around especially if you like things hot. 

What you'll need:

• 3 tomatoes
• 1/2 an onion, medium
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 cup parsley (or just as much as you'd like)
• 2 green onions
• 1/2 lemon (or just use some lemon juice)
• Chili paste/powder or actual chili peppers (I use an extra hot mix that my dad made out of chilis from our garden. It's actually deadly.)
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper
• Paprika, garlic powder (optional, you just need a little)
• Pineapple chunks (optional)

Baked chicken bruschetta

You know those days when you get home from work at 5:30, collapse into bed and the next thing you know it's almost 9pm and you've done absolutely nothing productive other than bitch about your wireless provider on Twitter and kick your sisters out of your room? Yep, I'm having a great night you guys!!! I figured it was time to block Twitter for the night (where would I be without Chrome's self control add-ons?) and try to be a little more productive. So not only am I about to actually step out of bed right after I post this, I'm finally sharing this recipe I've had drafted for over two weeks now! I know, I can't believe what a productive human being I am either.

I've made this baked chicken bruschetta twice already in the last couple of weeks, each time using slightly different ingredients. The first time I had fresh basil and parmesan and the second time I used kale and gouda. Both ways were really flavourful and there was cheese involved so it's a win no matter what, right? The dry basil in it is really key so I recommend using a lot!

Ingredients:

• 2 tomatoes
• 1 potato
• 1 onion
• Dry basil
• 2 garlic cloves
• Cubed chicken (mine had been boiled and I threw it in but you can fry up some raw chicken if you'd like)
• Grated parmesan (or any other type of cheese, I used gouda the second time I made it)
• Salt and pepper
• Black mustard seeds (optional)
• Fresh basil (optional)
• Kale (optional)

Warm beef and blue cheese salad

Just to let everyone know, I started a Facebook Page for Project Pack a Lunch so feel free to like it so you can get lunch updates while you stalk people you once went to high school with. 

Now on to the food stuff, featuring a warm beef salad! Seriously, I know I say I'm obsessed with everything and I know that I'm a slight exaggerator but I am obsessed with this one! The flavor of the sautéed vegetables and the simmering meat marinade and the cheese is all perfect and requires no dressing. And no dressing hopefully means its low in fat (ignoring the number of calories in cheese because WHO CARES IT'S CHEESE).

This may not be a lunch dish, but I thought it turned out too delicious not to share. It took less than 30 minutes from start to finish and is really easy to switch up to make your own. I know a lot of people can't stand blue cheese so any other soft cheese should work. I'll probably use goat cheese next time I make this.

Ingredients:

• 1 beef fillet
• Kale
• Spinach
• 2 Cherry tomatoes
• 2 Brussel sprouts
• Alfalafa sprouts
• 1 Radish
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove garlic
• Blue cheese
• Marinade: balsamic vinegar, vegetable oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black peppercorns, salt